Allow me to add a little perspective here if I may. Although I live in a suburb of Washington D.C. I work just 3 blocks from the White House. On Sept 11 I watched from my top floor office window the smoke from the Pentagon roil into the sky. The city was evacuated and not trusting the subway system (rumors and fear of more bombs were rampant) we all started walking out of the city. No panic but everyone kept looking over their shoulder as if expecting Godzilla to appear. I too am leery of the "big" donation drives but Pepper, not all the affected are getting paid salaries - not the single mother waitress who relied on tips because there are no more patrons of the restaurant and no more tips. Not the shoe shine guy who worked at the Pentagon Metro stop that has no job now. These people aren't paid salary and don't even qualify for unemployment. Purrley - I too donate to United Way through work (only a little bit I can afford) but I chose a food bank and my local animal shelter. I have that choice and am thankful I do. Edwina's Secretary - maybe no one you know is afraid of Anthrax but people are dying of it in my town. The mail in my building goes through the Brentwood Post Office which has now been declared a "crime scene". We have had no mail delivered in 2 weeks. Bills I paid from the office 2 weeks ago have not been received and tourists are staying away in droves. I live, work and walk through my city every day and it will never be the same. Your points are all valid but not the only points that need to be made. OK, I'm off my soap box.

laurie